Electric lighted key chain



Oct. 18, 1949. 'r. J. CUNNINGHAM 2,485,433 I ELECTRIC LIGHTED KEY CHAIN Filed June '7, 1947" FIG. 3.

- INVENTOR. filo/ms 'ICu/VNINGHAM.

jaw M Patented Oct. 18, 1949- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,485,483 ELECTRIC LIGHTED KEY CHAIN Thomas J. Cunningham, Baltimore, Md.

Application June 7, 1947, Serial No. 753,162

This invention relates to key ring attachments and more especially to those having arrangements for facilitating the use of door keys.

It has among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved key-ring assembly that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved key-ring assembly that will be illuminated when the key is used in a normal manner for unlocking of a lock.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved key-ring assembly or unit that may be carried around on the person and when its key is handled for use in a lock, will light it up and direct a beam of light on the lock, and when the pressure is removed from the assembly will extinguish the light.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully described.

For a better understanding of. the. invention reference is made to the drawings attached, and the description following, which together illustrate a particular form of the invention by way of example, while the scope of the invention is indicated in the claims.

In the drawings:

, Figure l is a side elevation of an electric lighted key ring, embodying this invention, attached to a ladys pocketbook and directing the light beam and key towards the door lock;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but attached to a pants belt, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the key ring light.

Similar reference characters refer to .similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the particular form of the invention shown in the drawings a key-ring assembly consists of a fastener II) to which a chain II is flexibly attached at one end. Its other end connects with a lug l2 attached to the housing. An electric battery I3 for operating a lamp I I is positioned in a housing I5 on which the lug I2 is provided at the upper rear portion thereof. A cap 20 closes one end of the housing I5 and the opposite end is provided with a reflector I6 which reflects the light in a predetermined direction from that end of the housing towards the key when the latter i inserted in its keyhole. The attachment of the chain II to the lug I2 is made at the back of the housing I 5 near one end thereof and with sufficient room to give it an appropriate operating travel. It is placed at the back to provide a suitable control over the position of the lamp and .3 Claims. (Cl. 2406.4)

reflector as will be mentioned later. The opposite end of the housing I5 is provided with a slot 23 aligned with the lug I2 on the back of the housing. An extending switch eyelet I'I operates in said slot. A second chain I8 is flexibly connected with the eyelet IT at one end and the other end of the chain of suitable length away is attached to a key I9.

The purpose of the assembly or unit is to enable the user to attach the fastener III to his clothes so it will be held stationary thereby and be kept at the most convenient height for use. When the user pushes the key I9 into a lock, the chains II and I8 are tensioned and pull so hard on the switch eyelet I7 that it is pulled over and thereby sends the current into the lamp I4 from the battery I3 to light it. A spring 22 serves to open the switch when the tension on the chains is diminished to a certain point. When the key is placed in the key hole of the lock, the chains and housing are brought taut and so aligned that the lamp l4 and reflector I6 direct the light from the lamp to key hole location and thus enable the user to see it even though his hand holds the key, which is also illuminated.

The user is enabled by this illumination to 10'- cate the key in the hole in the dark and unlock or look the lock promptly. When he returns the key to his pocket and relieves the chains of their tension, the switch button II returns to open position and withdraws the pin 25 from contact with an electrical conducting lamp holding collar 26 which surrounds the lamp ferrule and opens the circuit and discontinues the flow of current from the battery to the lamp I4, and therefore the latter goes out. The collar 26 is insulated from the housing I5 by a collar 21. The button I2 is at the back of the housing I5 and is much higher than the switch II so that the pull on the chains places the housing out of line and to one side-so that the light is directed to the side of the hand holding the key.

When the operator locates the hole for the key he simply raises it a little or points it up angu: larly and then inserts it without trouble. While clothes belt 30 or other apparel of the individual are the most usual place for the attachment of the fastener, it is appreciated that the handbag 3| could be used to provide the stationary locus for which to operate the unit.

It is also intended to include in the term chain any flexible member such as a cable, string or other similar conventional item used for a similar purpose, and that the term apparel as used in the claims is comprehensive enough to include handbags and other articles used on a person.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specifications, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form or in any other Way otherwise than limited by the scope thereof, as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what isclaimed is:

1. An illuminated key-ring assembly comprising in combination, a hollow housing, a cap for said housing, a lug position near the cap endof said housing, a chain attached to said lug, a fastener attached to the other end of said chain, a hollow flanged sleeve having a hole in one flange positioned within said housing near the front end thereof, an insulated collar positioned in the front end of said housing, a metallic collar positioned in said insulated collar, an electric lamp positioned in said metallic collar, a slot positioned in said housing in alignment with said lug, a switch eyelet of less height than said lug slidably positioned in said slot and positioned by said flanged sleeve, a pin on said switch eyelet for projecting through the hole in said flanged sleeve and contacting the metallic lamp holding collar to close the circuit and light the electric lamp, resilient means for normally holding the switch eyelet in open position, and an electric battery positioned in the flanged sleeve enclosed within said housing.

2. An illuminated key-ring assembly comprising in combination, a hollow housing, a cap for said housing, a lug positioned near the cap end of said housing, a chain attached to said lug, a fastener attached to the other end of said chain, a hollow flanged sleeve having a hole in one flange positioned within said housing near the front end thereof, an insulated collar positioned in the front end of said housing, a metallic collar positioned in said insulated collar, an electric lamp positioned in said metallic collar, a slot positioned in said housing in alignment with said lug, a switch eyelet of less height than said lug slidably positioned in said slot and positioned by said flanged sleeve,,a pin on said switch eyelet for projecting through the hole in said flanged sleeve and contacting the metallic lamp holding collar to close of said housing, a chain attached to said lug, a

fastener attached to the other end of said chain, a hollow flanged sleeve having a hole in one flange positioned within said housing near the front end thereof, an insulated collar positioned in the front end of said housing, a metallic collar positioned in said insulated collar, an electric lamp positioned in said metallic collar, a slot positioned in said housing in alignment with said lug, a switch eyelet of less height than said lug slidably positioned in said slot and positioned by said flanged sleeve, a pin on said switch eyelet for projecting through the hole in said flanged sleeve and contacting the metallic lamp holding collar to close the circuit and light the electric lamp, resilient means for normally holding the switch eyelet in open position, an electric battery positioned in the flanged sleeve enclosed within said housing, chain means attached to the switch eyelet for holding a key at its other end, said lug being higher than the switch eyelet so that when the chains are pulled taut the beam of light will be directed against the key at the end of one of the chains.

THOMAS J. CUNNINGHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hendrix Jan. 22, 1946 

